Compare towns
Dedham vs Springfield vs Otis vs Readfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k median).
Otis has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Readfield has the most people working from home (24.3%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Dedham | Springfield | Otis | Readfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,656 |
1,122 |
705Lowest |
2,651Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±2.2Lowest 20% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8 32% above U.S. |
54.7±3.1Highest 41% above U.S. |
48.1±7.6 24% above U.S. |
| Otis and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±7.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Readfield and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,442±$18kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$101,250±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$86,504±$8kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,400±$33k 7% above U.S. |
$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$282,500±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$326,400±$20k about the U.S. average |
| Springfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$607 about the U.S. average |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,563±$734Highest 11% above U.S. |
$1,125±$844 20% below U.S. |
| Otis and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,942 26% above U.S. |
$5,946Highest 91% above U.S. |
$2,263Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$3,392 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
35.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Otis and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
42 minHighest 58% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.3%±14.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Readfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #20 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dedham Public Schools | — | Otis Public Schools | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Maranacook Community High Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.